When life gives you lemons, save a couple for this delicious lemon bar recipe! These lemon bars are one of my very favorite dishes to bring for summer potlucks. People are always asking me for the recipe because they are just that good! They are sweet and tart and taste like summer in every bite.
Lemon Bars Ingredients
This recipe provides the perfect ratio of buttery crust to a bright, lemony filling. Make sure to press the crust down firmly so it doesn’t overpower the lemon flavor. It is the perfect combination and a classic dessert that brings a fruity flavor.
All-Purpose Flour – Use flour for the base to create a bottom-like shortbread texture and the filling to keep it thick. Butter – The butter is melted to hold together the bottom crust and give it a buttery flavoring. Powdered sugar – Sprinkled over top of the lemon bars as well as added to the lemon filling for a thicker and sweeter taste. Eggs – This is the binder that helps create the lemon layer. Sugar – Adds sweetness and balances out the flavors. Lemon juice and lemon zest – Try to use fresh lemons for this recipe. Not only will you be able to grate some fresh lemon zest from the rind, but fresh lemon juice tastes so much better and brighter than the bottled stuff. Baking powder – Helps build the lemon bars up and lifts them while setting up over the stovetop.
How to Make Lemon Bars
Lemon bars are always a popular and favorite dessert that everyone loves! These are so simple to make and layered perfectly. Create the crust, bake, then slice to serve. It is simple but is a delicious and decadent dessert to serve!
Tips for the Perfect Lemon Bars
Try these tips to help make the best lemon bars ever! This recipe is so simple to follow and comes together quick and easy. These helpful tips are here to make this lemon bar recipe even better!
Cold butter – Use very cold margarine or butter when making the crust, then use a pastry cutter or fork to blend it in with the flour. Cold butter makes light layers of crust that taste airy and just the perfect amount of crisp yet tender. Glass pan – Bake lemon bars in a glass pan, as metal pans, can give the bar cookies a slightly metallic taste. Cooking spray – Use a good quality cooking spray or parchment paper to line the bottom of the glass baking pan. They’ll come out easily without breaking. Part of a good lemon bar is the presentation, after all. Fresh lemons – To get the maximum juice out of the lemons, roll them on the counter with your hand for a few seconds or microwave them for about ten seconds. You will be amazed at how juicy those lemons can be! Cutting lemons – When cutting lemon bars, rinse your knife with warm water between each cut. This will make pretty, square bars and make the bars easier to remove from the pan. Extra powdered sugar – Don’t forget a generous dusting of powdered sugar on top. The sugar kind of melts into the lemon filling, making a golden, sweet crust on top that complements the tangy lemon. These are so delicious!
Serving and Storing Lemon Bars
These bars can be served warm, at room temperature, or cold. If lemon bars aren’t consumed within the first couple hours of baking, it is best to refrigerate them. I actually like them the best when they are served chilled. They hold their shape after being chilled and the flavors have more of a chance to meld together. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container or in a baking dish covered with plastic wrap for up to a week for maximum freshness. Read Next: 33+ Easy Dessert Ideas
More Tasty Bar Recipes
If you love bar cookie recipes as much as we do, you’re in luck! We’ve gathered a few of our favorite tried and true treats right here for you to try.
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